Hygrothermal and Mechanical Behaviors of Fiber Mortar: Comparative Study between Palm and Hemp Fibers

Younes Zouaoui, Ferhat Benmahiddine, Ammar Yahia and Rafik Belarbi
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Younes Zouaoui: Department of Civil Engineering, Université de Sherbrooke, 2500 Bd de l’ Université, Sherbrooke, QC J1K 2R1, Canada
Ferhat Benmahiddine: Laboratory of Engineering Sciences for the Environment (LaSIE), UMR CNRS 7356, La Rochelle University, Avenue Michel Crépeau, CEDEX 1, 17042 La Rochelle, France
Ammar Yahia: Department of Civil Engineering, Université de Sherbrooke, 2500 Bd de l’ Université, Sherbrooke, QC J1K 2R1, Canada
Rafik Belarbi: Department of Civil Engineering, Université de Sherbrooke, 2500 Bd de l’ Université, Sherbrooke, QC J1K 2R1, Canada

Energies, 2021, vol. 14, issue 21, 1-16

Abstract: This paper presents an experimental investigation of the hygrothermal and mechanical properties of innovative mortar mixtures reinforced with natural fibers. Fibers extracted from palm stems (PS) and hemp (HF) were evaluated at different percentages. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) observations showed that the PS fibers have rough surfaces and very complex microstructures. Prior to their incorporation into the mortar, the fibers were subjected to different treatments to reduce their hydrophilic character. The employed treatments showed good efficiency in reducing the water absorption of both PS and HF fiber types. Furthermore, the mortar mixtures incorporating these fibers exhibited low thermal conductivity and excellent moisture buffering capacity. Indeed, the moisture buffer value (MBV) of the investigated mixtures ranged between 2.7 [g/(%HR·m 2 )] and 3.1 [g/(%HR·m 2 )], hence providing them excellent moisture regulator character. As expected, the fiber mortar mixtures showed very high porosity and low compressive strength ranging between 0.6 and 0.9 MPa after 28 days of age. The low-environmental footprint materials developed in this study are intended for thermal insulation and building filling.

Keywords: natural fibers; morphology; chemical treatments; fiber mortar; moisture buffer value; hygrothermal properties (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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